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Home › Baby Names Directory › Parnell

Parnell

♂ Boy

How to Pronounce Parnell

Pronounced par-NEL /pɑːrˈnɛl/Medium

Meaning: Parnell is an Irish surname used as a given name, most often honoring the statesman Charles Stewart Parnell. The surname itself derives from the medieval woman's name Petronilla, a diminutive of the Roman Petronius, so it reaches back to Latin roots by way of Irish history.Low

In 30 seconds: Parnell is an Irish surname name honoring Charles Stewart Parnell, from Petronilla, said 'par-NEL'.
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Origin LowIrish, Latin
MeaningParnell is an Irish surname used as a given name, most often honoring the statesman Charles Stewart Parnell. The surname itself derives from the medieval woman's name Petronilla, a diminutive of the Roman Petronius, so it reaches back to Latin roots by way of Irish history.
U.S. rank (2017)#9468 ↗ Rising
2017 U.S. births8 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1963
Total births (all-time)≈ 1,422

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 196319122017

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Parnell is an Irish surname turned first name, chosen chiefly to honor Charles Stewart Parnell, the nineteenth-century leader of the Irish Home Rule movement. The surname itself descends from the medieval feminine name Petronilla, a diminutive of the Roman family name Petronius, so a patriotic Irish name carries an ancient Latin core.

In American records it appears modestly among Irish-descended families, with a small high around 1963, always uncommon. A boy named Parnell honors that heritage, and the name reads as a dignified, history-minded surname choice.

Did you know? Parnell belonged to Irish-American families proud of their heritage: a modest choice, it crested around 1963 with only a few dozen boys a year and stayed a rarity.
Overall data confidence 55%
References - Parnell — Irish surname < Petronilla; honors C. S. Parnell

Variations

ParnelPernellPetronilla

Nicknames

Parr

Famous Bearers

  • ★Charles Stewart Parnell (1846-1891)
    Irish nationalist leader of the Home Rule movement whose surname inspired the given name.

If you like Parnell…

Pernell— a like variant of the same surname
Farrell— a comparable Irish surname name
Donnell— another Irish -nell surname name
Cornell— a fellow dignified -nell surname name

Explore names like Parnell

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Parnell mean?

Parnell is an Irish surname used as a given name, honoring Charles Stewart Parnell; the surname derives from Petronilla.

How do you pronounce Parnell?

It's said par-NEL /pɑːrˈnɛl/ - two syllables, stress on the second.

Is Parnell a boy or girl name?

Parnell is used as a boy's name.

How popular is Parnell?

Parnell was a modest Irish-heritage choice with a small high in the early nineteen-sixties.

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